Fighting resumes in Ethiopia's Tigray region, spreads to Amhara and Afar
International outlets agree fighting has resumed in Ethiopia's Tigray region and spread to neighbouring areas, with each side blaming the other for starting the clashes.
What happened
Fighting has broken out between Ethiopia's federal government and Tigrayan forces, spreading into the neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions, four years after a 2020-2022 war ended in a peace deal.39195
The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) announced an alliance with six other armed groups aimed at removing the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and Tigrayan forces seized the airport in Mekelle and other federally controlled airports in the region.2178
Internet and phone networks were disrupted in Tigray, Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights to several Tigray cities, and some countries issued travel warnings.71524
The Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces have accused each other of launching the offensives that triggered the clashes, while the African Union and European Union called for immediate de-escalation.11823
What's agreed
Reported consistently by outlets in more than one region.
- Fighting has resumed between Ethiopia's federal government and Tigrayan forces, spreading beyond Tigray into the neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions.3910192024
- The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has formed an alliance with other armed groups aimed at overthrowing the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.2619
- Tigrayan forces seized control of the airport in Mekelle and other federally administered airports in Tigray.17248
- Internet and phone networks were disrupted in Tigray and northern Ethiopia amid the fighting.79151012
- Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights to Tigray cities including Mekelle, Axum and Shire.24
- The 2020-2022 civil war between the TPLF and federal forces killed an estimated 600,000 people, and a peace deal that ended it has now been shattered by the new fighting.1912185
- Both the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces have accused each other of launching the offensives that triggered the renewed fighting.81119
Where accounts differ
Each account is attributed to who makes it. We do not judge between them.
Who started the renewed fighting
Current casualty figures
Ethiopia's federal army
The federal army said 272 rebels were killed and 260 wounded in fighting in the north; this figure has not been independently confirmed by other sources.3
Characterization of the current fighting
How it's framed
What each perspective puts first, based on headlines and summaries.
| Perspective | How it reads | What it puts first |
|---|---|---|
| African public and independent pressAfrica | African outlets emphasise both the humanitarian toll and internal political dynamics within Tigray, including criticism of TPLF leadership, alongside the mutual accusations between government and rebel sides.181814 | internal Tigrayan criticism of leadership, humanitarian failures, mutual accusations of offensives |
| State-controlled outlets across regions (China, Qatar, Turkey)East Asia | State-controlled outlets from China (East Asia), Qatar and Turkey (Middle East) report the alliance formation, airline suspensions, and multi-region fighting, with Al Jazeera additionally covering displacement and forced-recruitment fears.21620 | alliance formation and flight suspensions, multi-region clashes, displacement and recruitment fears |
| European outlets (public broadcasters and private press)Europe | European outlets, particularly from the UK, France, Germany, Ireland and Spain, use language such as 'return to civil war' or 'total war', cite the scale of the previous 600,000-death conflict, and note international responses such as UK condemnation and AU/EU calls for de-escalation.91921222324315 | return to civil war framing, citing 600,000 death toll from prior war, international diplomatic response |
| US outletsNorth America | US outlets frame the story around growing fears of a return to full-scale war and specific rebel military gains, such as the seizure of Mekelle airport, with NPR emphasising the fragility of the four-year-old peace deal.51117 | fragile peace deal breaking down, rebel military gains, growing fears of war |
| South and Southeast Asian wire-sourced coverageSouth Asia | Outlets in India, Pakistan, Singapore and Malaysia carried wire-sourced copy describing heavy fighting, internet disruption and the historical death toll of the prior war.612713 | wire-sourced reporting, communications blackout, historical death toll reference |
| Middle Eastern outletsMiddle East & Turkey | Middle Eastern outlets, including Israeli and Saudi media, focus on practical consequences such as travel warnings and airline suspensions alongside reports of rebel military gains and cross-border attacks.41016 | travel warnings, airline suspensions, rebel military gains and cross-border attacks |
What the coverage leaves out
- None of the outlets reviewed reported detailed, independently verified casualty figures beyond the Ethiopian army's own claim of 272 rebels killed and 260 wounded.
- None of the outlets reviewed reported the current humanitarian situation on the ground in Tigray, such as displacement numbers or supply blockades, beyond general references to past hunger and displacement.
- None of the outlets reviewed reported a detailed response or statement from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government beyond the military's claim of repelling attacks.
- None of the outlets reviewed reported on the internal composition or leadership disputes within the TPLF beyond SABC's mention of criticism over humanitarian failures.
Why it matters
The African Union and European Union called for immediate de-escalation as the fighting raised fears of a return to the full-scale 2020-2022 civil war, which killed an estimated 600,000 people.2319
The UK government condemned attacks by Tigray forces, reflecting international concern over the risk of renewed civil war.21
What to watch
- Whether the African Union and European Union calls for de-escalation lead to any negotiated halt to the fighting.
- Whether fighting continues to spread into additional regions beyond Amhara and Afar.
- Whether independent casualty or humanitarian assessments emerge beyond the figures currently cited by Ethiopia's military.
Sources (24)
Every outlet we drew on, grouped by where it is based. Read the originals for the full reporting.
North America
- 5NPRUSPublic broadcaster
- 11The Washington PostUSPrivate
Attacks by new rebel alliance stoke fear Ethiopia is returning to war
- 17The New York TimesUSPrivate
Tigrayan Forces Mobilize Against the Central Government in Ethiopia
Europe
- 3France 24FRPublic broadcaster
- 9RTÉ NewsIEPublic broadcaster
- 15Deutsche WelleDEPublic broadcaster
Ethiopia: Internet disrupted in Tigray amid conflict escalation
- 19The GuardianGBPrivate
Fears of return to war as Tigray rebels launch offensive against Ethiopian army
- 21Sky NewsGBPrivate
UK condemns Tigray attacks in Ethiopia - four years after civil war
- 22BBC NewsGBPublic broadcaster
Ethiopia's army says it has repelled attacks in first comment on fresh fighting
- 23Le MondeFRPrivate
Translated from French: En Ethiopie, après le déclenchement d’offensives par plusieurs groupes rebelles, le pays au bord de la « guerre totale »
- 24El PaísESPrivate
Civil war breaks out again in Ethiopia
Translated from Spanish: La guerra civil vuelve a estallar en Etiopía
Middle East & Turkey
- 4The Jerusalem PostILPrivate
Foreign Ministry issues travel warning for Tigray region of Ethiopia amid local escalation
- 10Arab NewsSAPrivate
Heavy fighting, internet disruption as Ethiopia conflict rages
- 16Al Jazeera EnglishQAState-controlled
- 20Anadolu AgencyTRState-controlled
Fighting erupts in northern Ethiopia as Tigray forces clash with army
Africa
- 1SABC NewsZAPublic broadcaster
- 8MyJoyOnlineGHPrivate
Ethiopia and Tigray accuse each of launching offensives, fuelling fears of new war
- 14Premium TimesNGIndependent
Attack by rebel group raises fear of renewed war in Ethiopia
- 18Egypt IndependentEGPrivate
Tigrayan leaders say new war with Ethiopian government has begun, as fighting erupts
South Asia
- 6The HinduINPrivate
Heavy fighting, internet disruption as Ethiopia conflict rages
- 12DawnPKPrivate
Heavy fighting, internet disruption as Ethiopia conflict rages
East Asia
- 2CGTNCNState-controlled
Southeast Asia
- 7The Straits TimesSGPrivate
Internet and phone network disrupted in Ethiopia's war-hit Tigray region
- 13Malay MailMYPrivate
Ethiopian army battles Tigray rebels in north as fears of wider war grow